Online Cooperation of the Economic and Social Councils
CESlink
Economic and Social Council of Croatia (Gospodarsko-socijalno vijeće (GSV))
GSV
Info
Contact
Ulica grada Vukovara 78
HR-10000
Zagreb
Tel
+385 1 6106 533 / +385 1 6106 545 / +385 1 6106 351
Email
partnerstvo@partnerstvo.gov.hr
45.7997723, 15.9760282
Introduction
The Economic and Social Council of Croatia (GSV) is the main tripartite social dialogue institution, that was established in 1994. At present, the GSV operations and membership is based on the Agreement on the Establishment of the Economic and Social Council, which is stipulated according to the Labour Act and the Act on Trade Union and Employer Associations Representativeness. The Agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), the Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (NHS), the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) and the Association of Croatian Trade Unions (MHS).
Mission
The Economic and Social Council (GSV) as an advisory body represents the highest form of tripartite social dialogue in Croatia which implies a partnership in the process of designing, adopting and implementing European and national public policies and strategies, programs, laws, other regulations and acts.
The Economic and Social Council (GSV) is founded to protect and promote economic and social rights, the interests of workers and employers, conducting harmonized economic, social and development policies and encouraging, concluding and implementing collective agreements.
Membership
The Council is composed of representatives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), the Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (NHS), the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) and the Association of Croatian Trade Unions (MHS).
Currently, the GSV has 12 members plus deputies. The Government has six representatives in the Council (the Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Economy, the Minister of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation, the Minister of Science, Education and Youth and the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds ) and six deputies, while the three trade union confederations have one representative each and can have three deputies each, and one employers' association has three representatives and three deputies.
Organisation
The Council has a President and two Vice-Presidents. The president and vice-presidents are appointed for a period of one year, alternately from representatives of trade unions, employers and the Government. A regular session of the Council is normally held once a month by the Council President in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Work Program of the Council adopted at the beginning of the calendar year. The Agenda is formed in agreement with the President and two Vice-Presidents, and the Office for Social Partnership.
The Council has permanent (commissions) and occasional working bodies (working groups).
Currently the Economic and Social Council has six commissions:
1. Committee on Paying Policy, Taxation System and Living Standard
2. The Social Policy Committee
3. Committee for Employment, Education and Labor Market Harmonization
4. Committee for Legislation, Collective Bargaining and Protection of Rights
5. Committe for Sustainable Development, Encouragement of the Economy, Energy and Climate Change
6. Committee for Monitoring the Activities of the International Labour Organization
The committees have coordinators and two deputy coordinators, and one representative of each of the three parties is appointed on these duties and rotate in these roles in the same order as the president and two vice-presidents.
The Economic and Social Council (GSV) activities are supported by the newly established Office for Social Partnership, which is a government office that takes care of the organizational and technical aspects of the work of the Council.
Working Methods
The Council gives its opinion on the proposals of the regulations and other acts discussed by the Council under the ESC Program of Work, the decision on the appointment of members of other tripartite bodies, and the conclusion taking positions, accepting reports and resolving other issues for which no other act is envisaged.
The Council will seek consensus when deciding, but if consensus is not attainable, then each party can submit their own opinion.